Biz Briefs of the Week: February 28, 2013

Sotheby’s New Marketing Program
Lenihan Sotheby’s International Realty in Louisville, Kentucky announced on Feb. 18 that Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC launched its 2013 marketing program, which was designed to reach a global audience of qualified luxury consumers.

At the core of the brand’s 2013 strategy are its relationships with pre-eminent media powerhouses in both the print and online arenas including: The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, BBC.com, The Telegraph Media Group, Google, Architectural Digest and, new this year, the Hong Kong Tatler. These relationships were developed to showcase unique properties from the Sotheby’s International Realty brand’s 650 offices in 45 countries and territories worldwide through unique, media rich advertising units that offer an immersive experience and position the brand in front of a relevant audience of consumers. Each relationship features elements that are exclusive to the Sotheby’s International Realty brand, created solely for it and featuring new technologies, tools and resources.

The complete Sotheby’s International Realty marketing program will be available for network members to present to consumers on listing presentations via a unique and interactive digital format presentation created using the Adobe Digital Publishing Suite. The presentation, which is available to network members as an iPad app, allows for the brand to continuously make updates throughout the year so the latest information is available to its network at all times. It also provides an immersive experience for consumers through slideshows, interactive images, embedded videos and live links to online components of the plan, making it easier for agents to present and allowing consumers to see first-hand the avenues of exposure available to them.

“Our marketing plan was designed to deliver 700 million overall impressions, generating valuable exposure among our core audience of consumers: the connoisseurs of life,” said Wendy Purvey, chief marketing officer, Sotheby’s International Realty Affiliates LLC. “We are taking a cutting edge and targeted approach in our marketing plan, which will help us create global connections and showcase the extraordinary homes our network represents. Our relationships with many of the world’s most influential news media have been cultivated over the course of several years and offer multiple levels of custom exposure for our network. Finally, our unique collaboration with Adobe ties our entire program together, allowing us to speak to the consumer in a new and interactive way that has traditionally been utilized by the world’s publishing powerhouses to promote their products.”

“Adobe Digital Publishing Suite enables the Sotheby’s International Realty brand to extend its influence on mobile and tablet devices through innovative marketing efforts,” said Nick Bogaty, senior director, business development and marketing for Digital Publishing at Adobe. “With specialized needs to communicate critical marketing messages to consumers, they are applying our publishing solution in a way that is unique in the real estate industry today.”

The Sotheby’s International Realty brand’s website, sothebysrealty.com, will continue to be enhanced throughout 2013. So far this year, search engine optimization enhancements have been made and the property detail pages and search result pages feature new designs to enhance the search experience. The brand also will continue to expand on its series of branded websites for specialty markets. Last year, it launched specialty market websites for Farm & Ranch, Waterfront and Ski, with Golf, Historic and Metropolitan to follow soon. Also, last year sothebysrealty.com surpassed 7 million visits and 4 million unique visitors for the first time.

“This cutting-edge platform will enable us to showcase all the brand has to offer from a marketing perspective in a comprehensive and effective way,” said John Lenihan, broker of the firm. “The Sotheby’s International Realty brand is making it easy for us to communicate our value proposition with prospective clients with clarity and by utilizing the latest technologies.”

Lenihan Sotheby’s International Realty was formed under the strong leadership of John Lenihan. In 2010, the firm was awarded an affiliation with the prestigious Sotheby’s International Realty brand which was built on a 260-year reputation and foundation of excellence and offers unparalleled access to the world’s most distinctive properties through its global affiliates. Their relationship with this premier brand affirms their commitment towards providing a superior level of service, marketing and expertise in Louisville and around the world. Lenihan Sotheby’s International Realty is located at 3803 Brownsboro Road, and online at www.lenihansir.com.

The Sotheby’s International Realty network currently has more than 12,600 sales associates located in approximately 650 offices in 45 countries and territories worldwide. Each office is independently owned and operated.

New Bureau Commission MemberThe Louisville Convention & Visitors Bureau has announced the appointment of Clifford “Rip” Rippetoe to the Greater Louisville Convention & Visitors Bureau Commission. The Commission is the policy-making body of the Louisville Convention & Visitors Bureau, the community’s tourism marketing organization. Rippetoe is the president & CEO of the Kentucky State Fair Board. Before coming to Louisville to take the position that was vacated with the retirement of Harold Workman, Rippetoe had his own consulting firm, Rippetoe Solutions Group, which focused on creating efficiencies and productivity for public assembly facilities. He is a native of Oklahoma and a graduate of Oklahoma State University. Rippetoe was appointed to the Commission by Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear and his term will expire in August 2015. He replaced Harold Workman who left the board after his retirement.

Business Hall of Fame
Four of Greater Louisville’s outstanding business and civic leaders will be inducted into the Kentuckiana Business Hall of Fame to benefit Junior Achievement of Kentuckiana on Thursday, Feb. 28, in the Kentucky International Convention Center Cascade Ballroom. A reception honoring the inductees will be held at 6 p.m., followed by the awards dinner at 7.

James R Allen, president and CEO of Hilliard Lyons, will serve as honorary chairman. These distinguished business leaders will join 96 previously honored Kentuckiana Business Hall of Fame recipients:

John R. “Jack” Guthrie, Founder of Guthrie/Mayes Public Relations. Mr. Guthrie is the driving force that propelled the Kentucky Derby Festival from a two-week event into national prominence as the nation’s largest civic celebration. Among other projects, he was a leader in the initial redevelopment of Louisville’s historic Main Street area.

The late Leonard Everett “Lenny” Lyles, corporate executive at Brown Williamson Tobacco Corp. and co-founder of Lyles Mall. Mr. Lyles played a major role in revitalizing the west end area and in serving as a mentor and role model for minority youths. He was a star athlete at Central High School and played 12 seasons in the NFL.

Mary S. Moseley, President and CEO of The Al J. Schneider Co. Ms. Moseley, the daughter of the late Al J. Schneider, engineered a $70 million renovation of The Galt House Towers and a $26 million renovation of the Crowne Plaza Hotel. Under her leadership, The Al J. Schneider Co. continues to build the prestige of the company’s holdings.

Max Shapira, President of Heaven Hill Distilleries. With third generation members of the family leadership, Mr. Shapira has steadily built the company into the country’s sixth largest spirits supplier. With an impressive portfolio of merchandisable brands in every category and strong long-term relationships within their channels of distribution, the Shapira family is well positioned to continue and expand Heaven Hill’s unique position in the distilled spirits industry.

With the induction of these four individuals, Junior Achievement will celebrate 100 Laureates in the permanent Kentuckiana Business Hall of Fame display at the Kentucky International Convention Center.

The Boutique at Margaret’s
The former Designer Room at Margaret’s Consignment & Collectibles is now the home of The Boutique at Margaret’s, a new venture for the business that will feature new, never-been-worn, high-end accessories, coats, formal dresses, skirts, handbags and other wearables sold at discounted prices. The items showcased in The Boutique at Margaret’s are not consigned by individuals, but rather by local boutiques, including Olivia & Co., as well as designers, including 3 Sisters.

“We saw this as an opportunity to give local boutiques an outlet to sell inventory from last season or last year, while offering our clientele a selection of new, current fashions and accessories of the same quality and price point that they are accustomed to at Margaret’s,” said Margaret Browning, owner. Winter hours for Margaret’s Consignment, 2700 Frankfort Ave., are Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and closed on Sundays. The payout window and receiving window are open from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. For more information call 502.896.4706 or visit www.margaretsconsignment.com.

Operation Cookie
Republic Bank Chairman and CEO Steve Trager, Girl Scouts of Kentuckiana CEO Lora Tucker and veterans’ advocate Heather French Henry made a special announcement Feb. 27 at Republic Bank Corporate Center, about the fifth annual Operation Cookie. They were joined by Girl Scout members and leaders, as well as active military members. It’s Girl Scout Cookie time, so what a great way to say thank you to those who put their lives on the line for our country by sending them a gift of caring from home? Operation Cookie, now in its fifth year, is a partnership between Republic Bank and Girl Scouts to send much-loved Girl Scout Cookies to our military men and women serving overseas. At the news conference Republic Bank presented Girl Scouts with a significant donation to kick off this year’s operation. This year’s goal was announced, and details were provided to let the public know how they can be part of this sweet way to say thank you to our military heroes.

Why is Operation Cookie so important?

Everyone loves Girl Scout Cookies, especially our military troops who serve overseas and welcome this gift of caring as a reminder of family and home.

Every Girl Scout Cookie has a mission: to help girls do great things. The kind of leadership skills and community commitment girls learn through the Girl Scout Cookie program is reflected in the partnership that makes Operation Cookie possible, and in Republic Bank’s longstanding support of Girl Scouts and other important community causes.

Girl Scout Cookie booths are currently underway and will run through March 22 at hundreds of locations outside stories and business throughout the Metro Louisville area. The cost for cookies is still $3.50 per box. Boxes can be bought at booths and designated as a gift of caring for Operation Cookie. Girl Scouts of Kentuckiana takes care of the delivery, so it’s an easy way to send a caring treat to a solider far from home.

For more information visit www.gskentuckiana.org.

Jewish Earns Achievement Award
Jewish Hospital, part of KentuckyOne Health, has received the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Get With The Guidelines – Stroke Gold Plus Quality Achievement Award, recognizing the facility’s commitment to and success in implementing excellent care for stroke patients, according to evidence-based guidelines.

The achievement award is based on continued high scores in a number of areas including: aggressive use of medications, such as antithrombotics, anticoagulation therapy, deep vein thrombosis prophylaxis, cholesterol reducing drugs and smoking cessation, all aimed at reducing death and disability and improving the lives of stroke patients, including risk-factor education.

In addition to the Get With The Guidelines – Stroke award, Jewish Hospital has also been recognized as a recipient of the association’s Target: Stroke Honor Roll, for the quick and effective administration of tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), or clot-busting agent, within 60 minutes of arriving at the hospital (for eligible ischemic stroke patients.) These are the only drugs approved by the Food and Drug Administration for the urgent treatment of ischemic stroke. If given intravenously within the first three hours after the onset of symptoms, tPA has been shown to significantly reverse the effects of stroke and reduce permanent disability.

“We are proud that the efforts and dedication of our stroke team have been recognized with this honor,” Kristin Mefford RN, BSN, Stroke Program Coordinator, KentuckyOne Health, Louisville Market. “We work hard every day to employ best practices and improve outcomes for our stroke patients.”

“Jewish Hospital is to be commended for its commitment to implementing standards of care and protocols for treating stroke patients,” said Lee H. Schwamm, M.D., chair of the Get With The Guidelines National Steering Committee and director of the TeleStroke and Acute Stroke Services at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. “The full implementation of acute care and secondary prevention recommendations and guidelines is a critical step in saving the lives and improving outcomes of stroke patients.”

According to the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, stroke is one of the leading causes of death and serious, long-term disability in the United States. On average, someone suffers a stroke every 40 seconds; someone dies of a stroke every four minutes; and 795,000 people suffer a new or recurrent stroke each year.

For more information visit www.jhsmh.org.

‘Blue of L Day’ at the Science Center
On Friday, March 1, the Kentucky Cancer Program at the University of Louisville will again sponsor Dress In Blue Day for colon cancer screening awareness.

This year’s celebration, dubbed “Blue of L Day,” will feature UofL basketball legend Darrell Griffith along with Madeline Abramson, honorary chair of Dress in Blue Day for Kentucky and wife of Lt. Gov. Jerry Abramson. The event will be held at the Kentucky Science Center, 727 W. Main St., from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

A highlight of the day’s activities will be Abramson and Griffith’s appearance from noon to 1 p.m. They will meet participants and discuss the importance of colon cancer screening.

Participants also will see the “Incredible Colon,” a 20-foot long, 10-foot tall, walk-through replica of the human colon that provides images to educate the public about colorectal cancer. The first 200 participants wearing blue who tour the Incredible Colon between noon and 1 p.m. will receive free Dress in Blue t-shirts.

Also on display at the Kentucky Science Center is the Body Worlds Vital exhibit that includes whole-body plastinates, a large arrangement of individual organs, organ and arterial configurations, and translucent slices that give a complete picture of how the human body works. The exhibit shows how to best fight, manage and prevent life-threatening diseases – such as cancer, diabetes and heart ailments – through healthy choices and life style changes.

Early diagnosis and treatment is the goal of Dress in Blue Day, said Dr. Donald Miller, director of the James Graham Brown Cancer Center at UofL. “Colon cancer screening can save lives. Most colon cancers can be prevented or cured if detected early,” he said.

“I’ve been screened for colon cancer twice,” UofL President James R. Ramsey said, “and I join Dr. Miller in encouraging everyone age 50 and over to schedule a screening appointment – and to go blue for colon cancer on March 1.”

The Kentucky Capitol Dome in Frankfort will be lit in blue for colon cancer awareness beginning March 1 through March 10, also. The Kentucky Cancer Program will sponsor a colon cancer display in the Capital Annex Hall March 4 through 8 for legislators and visitors to learn about the importance of colon cancer screening.

Admission to the event varies with several options for the Body Worlds Vital exhibition available; for details, visit the Kentucky Science Center web site at www.kysciencecenter.org.